Program Serves Thousands of Meals in First Month

After just over a month, the South Cumberland Summer Meal program is already off to a great start, according to Kelly Farina, the VISTA volunteer who is the project coordinator. Working in partnership with the South Cumberland Community Fund, the University of the South and the USDA, the meal program is working with 21 organizations in Franklin and Grundy counties to serve more than 5,500 meals to kids and teens on and off the Mountain. This program is free for any person under the age of 18, and no registration is necessary in order to receive a meal. 

Several new programs have started or expanded services in July on the Mountain. New programs in Tracy City at the Public Library and Christ Episcopal Church are underway. On Mondays and Wednesdays each week, the Crow Creek Valley Community Center in Sherwood now offers lunch. The Grundy Housing Authority is also offering breakfast and lunch three days a week. The last day of the Summer Meal Program will be July 31. 

Meal programs at Christ Episcopal also include programs for kids that range from demonstrations and interactive games on water and energy conservation to visits from park rangers at the South Cumberland State Park. The Rev. Stephen Eichler of Christ Episcopal said, “We are excited to be participating in the summer meal program and to be providing nutritious meals, along with enriching activities!”

The schedule for the remainder of the program is:

Cumberland Baptist Church, Beersheba Springs—6–8 p.m., Monday–Friday, July 27–31

Christ Church, Tracy City —Noon–1 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays

Crow Creek Valley Community Center, Sherwood —10 a.m.–1 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays

First Methodist Church, Tracy City—5–7 p.m., Wednesdays

Grundy Housing Authority, Monteagle —9–10 a.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

May Justus Memorial Library, Monteagle —10–11 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays

Midway/St.James playground, Sewanee—Noon–1 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays

Palmer Public Library, Palmer—11 a.m.–noon, Thursdays

Tracy City Public Library, Tracy City—11 a.m.–1 p.m., Wednesdays

For more information about the South Cumberland Summer Meal Program, contact Farina at 598-1851 or email
<sfpvista@gmail.com>.